tips when you pray...
(1) Be right with God, set apart from the world:
"The effective [active, working] prayer of a righteous person has great power." James 5:16b [ESV]
(2) Humble yourself before God:
"Then he said, "Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer." Daniel 10:12 [NLT]
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication [humble pleading], with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
(3) Ask God the Father directly:
"So He [Jesus] said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’" Luke 11:2-4
"At that time you won’t need to ask Me [Jesus] for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name." John 16:23 [NLT]
(4) Ask in the name of Jesus, by Jesus’ authority:
"And in that day [when Jesus is with the Father] you will ask Me [Jesus] nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." John 16:23
(5) Ask only for things that are pleasing to God, that He wills to do:
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions [requests] that we have asked of Him." 1 John 5:14-15
(6) Ask in agreement with another:
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My [Jesus’] name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:19-20
(7) Ask believing that it has been given, in faith:
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24 [ESV]
"Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’" Mark 9:23
"And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." James 5:15-16a [ESV]
(8) Give thanks to God for answering your prayers:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him [Jesus] to God the Father." Colossians 3:17 [NLT]
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication [humble pleading], with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6
(9) Pray without ceasing, trust in God’s timing:
"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
"I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs." Luke 11:8
"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: … And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1, 7-8
"The effective [active, working] prayer of a righteous person has great power." James 5:16b [ESV]
(2) Humble yourself before God:
"Then he said, "Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer." Daniel 10:12 [NLT]
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication [humble pleading], with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
(3) Ask God the Father directly:
"So He [Jesus] said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’" Luke 11:2-4
"At that time you won’t need to ask Me [Jesus] for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name." John 16:23 [NLT]
(4) Ask in the name of Jesus, by Jesus’ authority:
"And in that day [when Jesus is with the Father] you will ask Me [Jesus] nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you." John 16:23
(5) Ask only for things that are pleasing to God, that He wills to do:
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions [requests] that we have asked of Him." 1 John 5:14-15
(6) Ask in agreement with another:
"Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My [Jesus’] name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:19-20
(7) Ask believing that it has been given, in faith:
"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24 [ESV]
"Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’" Mark 9:23
"And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed." James 5:15-16a [ESV]
(8) Give thanks to God for answering your prayers:
"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him [Jesus] to God the Father." Colossians 3:17 [NLT]
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication [humble pleading], with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6
(9) Pray without ceasing, trust in God’s timing:
"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
"I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs." Luke 11:8
"Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, saying: … And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" Luke 18:1, 7-8
praying for others (personalize the underlined words):
"So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found no one." Ezekiel 22:30
"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4
"Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth." Psalm 54:2
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,…" Ezekiel 36:26-27
"…Now Cornelius was waiting for them (Peter and his brethren), and had called together his relatives and close friends." Acts 10:24
"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel (my relatives and close friends) is that they may be saved." Romans 10:1
"So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’" Acts 16:31
"And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." Job 42:10
I pray, ‘that the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in me, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward me who believes, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.’ Ephesians 1:17-21
I pray "that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." Colossians 1:9-12
I pray, "Lord God give me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary, awaken me morning by morning, awaken my ear to hear as the learned. Lord God open my ear; that I may not be rebellious, nor turn away. That I may keep my back to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who pluck out my beard; that I may not hide my face from shame and spitting." Isaiah 50:4-6
"Now may the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace in believing, that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
Lord, ‘You are my family and friends refuge and our fortress; our God, in You we will trust. Surely You shall deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. You shall cover us with Your feathers, and under Your wings we shall take refuge; Your truth shall be our shield and buckler. We shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at our side, and ten thousand at our right hand; but it shall not come near us. Only with our eyes shall we look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because we have made the Lord, who is our refuge, even the Most High, our dwelling place, no evil shall befall us, nor shall any plague come near our dwelling; for You shall give Your angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways. In their hands they shall bear us up, lest we dash our foot against a stone. We shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent we shall trample underfoot. Because we have set our love upon You, therefore You will deliver us; You will set us on high, because we have known Your name. We shall call upon You, and You will answer us; You will be with us in trouble; You will deliver us and honor us. With long life You will satisfy us, and show us Your salvation.’ Psalm 91:2-16
"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4
"Hear my prayer, O God; give ear to the words of my mouth." Psalm 54:2
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes,…" Ezekiel 36:26-27
"…Now Cornelius was waiting for them (Peter and his brethren), and had called together his relatives and close friends." Acts 10:24
"Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel (my relatives and close friends) is that they may be saved." Romans 10:1
"So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’" Acts 16:31
"And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." Job 42:10
I pray, ‘that the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in me, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward me who believes, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.’ Ephesians 1:17-21
I pray "that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." Colossians 1:9-12
I pray, "Lord God give me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary, awaken me morning by morning, awaken my ear to hear as the learned. Lord God open my ear; that I may not be rebellious, nor turn away. That I may keep my back to those who strike me, and my cheeks to those who pluck out my beard; that I may not hide my face from shame and spitting." Isaiah 50:4-6
"Now may the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace in believing, that I may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
Lord, ‘You are my family and friends refuge and our fortress; our God, in You we will trust. Surely You shall deliver us from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. You shall cover us with Your feathers, and under Your wings we shall take refuge; Your truth shall be our shield and buckler. We shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at our side, and ten thousand at our right hand; but it shall not come near us. Only with our eyes shall we look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because we have made the Lord, who is our refuge, even the Most High, our dwelling place, no evil shall befall us, nor shall any plague come near our dwelling; for You shall give Your angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways. In their hands they shall bear us up, lest we dash our foot against a stone. We shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent we shall trample underfoot. Because we have set our love upon You, therefore You will deliver us; You will set us on high, because we have known Your name. We shall call upon You, and You will answer us; You will be with us in trouble; You will deliver us and honor us. With long life You will satisfy us, and show us Your salvation.’ Psalm 91:2-16
Worship lyrics in the bible:
"Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep;" Psalm 36:5-6
"For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds." Psalm 57:10
"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Psalm 84:1-2
"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand." Psalm 84:11
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6
"For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds." Psalm 57:10
"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." Psalm 84:1-2
"For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand." Psalm 84:11
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6
